Cost of Living Comparison Between Dar es Salaam and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Dar es Salaam and Phuket

Name: Phuket
Address: Phuket, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $871 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,393 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,914 per month in Dar es Salaam vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.

Dar es Salaam is about 29% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Dar es Salaam and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Dar es Salaam 35% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.79 TZS 7,271

$4.63 ฿151

-39.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.41 TZS 50.7K

$46.84 ฿1,523

-58.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.93 TZS 20.7K

$8.84 ฿287

-10.29%

Cappuccino

$1.95 TZS 5,095

$3.00 ฿97.4

-35.00%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 TZS 1,012

$0.74 ฿24.11

-47.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 TZS 572

$0.37 ฿11.88

-40.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 TZS 2,802

$2.44 ฿79.3

-56.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 TZS 5,080

$3.61 ฿117

-45.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 TZS 2,813

$2.26 ฿73.5

-52.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 TZS 2,126

$1.84 ฿59.8

-55.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 TZS 2,936

$2.24 ฿73.0

-50.00%

Eggs

$1.97 TZS 5,155

$2.32 ฿75.3

-15.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.46 TZS 24.7K

$19.67 ฿639

-51.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.83 TZS 15.2K

$3.65 ฿119

59.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.37 TZS 11.4K

$13.10 ฿426

-66.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 TZS 6,821

$3.39 ฿110

-23.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,746

$1.64 ฿53.4

-35.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 TZS 2,752

$2.41 ฿78.5

-56.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 TZS 2,724

$2.03 ฿66.0

-48.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 TZS 2,462

$1.56 ฿50.6

-39.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 TZS 4,002

$1.50 ฿48.66

2.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 TZS 2,369

$1.02 ฿33.30

-10.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 TZS 1,147

$0.49 ฿15.91

-10.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.04 TZS 5,333

$4.45 ฿145

-54.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.44 TZS 16.8K

$18.88 ฿614

-65.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 TZS 2,523

$1.78 ฿57.7

-45.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TZS 4,240

$2.75 ฿89.5

-41.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 TZS 679

$1.40 ฿45.54

-81.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.10 TZS 44.6K

$11.48 ฿373

48.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 TZS 3,884

$3.12 ฿101

-52.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 TZS 3,930

$1.00 ฿32.48

51.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.43 TZS 35.1K

$14.09 ฿458

-4.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 TZS 3,271

$1.35 ฿43.93

-7.41%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$16.8K TZS 43.8M

$27.2K ฿883.7K

-38.23%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$17.2K TZS 44.9M

$32.9K ฿1.1M

-47.73%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$98.3 TZS 256.6K

$125 ฿4,063

-21.34%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.90 TZS 28.5K

$13.57 ฿441

-19.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.96 TZS 83.4K

$18.52 ฿602

72.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.7 TZS 249.8K

$61.5 ฿1,999

55.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.79 TZS 12.5K

$16.84 ฿547

-71.56%

Cinema Ticket

$4.75 TZS 12.4K

$9.19 ฿299

-48.31%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$253 TZS 660.5K

$698 ฿22.7K

-63.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.3K TZS 50.3M

$15.6K ฿506.9K

23.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.75 TZS 67.2K

$57.8 ฿1,878

-55.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.74 TZS 109.0K

$35.24 ฿1,146

18.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.25 TZS 120.7K

$113 ฿3,677

-59.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.7 TZS 223.7K

$86.4 ฿2,808

-0.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$592 TZS 1.5M

$616 ฿20.0K

-3.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 TZS 668.6K

$446 ฿14.5K

-42.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,299 TZS 3.4M

$2,048 ฿66.6K

-36.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 TZS 1.7M

$1,492 ฿48.5K

-56.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,522 TZS 4.0M

$3,779 ฿122.8K

-59.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,105 TZS 2.9M

$2,649 ฿86.1K

-58.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$263 TZS 687.7K

$524 ฿17.0K

-49.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.67

5.33

269.04%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Dar es Salaam: April 25, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $592 in Dar es Salaam versus $616 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 99% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dar es Salaam versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $167 vs $292 – making Dar es Salaam the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Dar es Salaam vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 41%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,307 per month in Dar es Salaam and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dar es Salaam, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $253 per month in Dar es Salaam and $698 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 75% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dar es Salaam, where all-in costs run around $871, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Dar es Salaam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dar es Salaam – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Dar es Salaam. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.